Second Rate!

United, still mathematically with a chance of making the much vaunted 'top six', produced yet another almost predictable 'sub-standard' performance at the Marshes. If a stranger had entered the ground and was told that one of the two teams was chasing a victory to have any chance of a 'top six' finish, he definitely wouldn't have opted for the team in red. So inept were United that we had to wait until the 25th minute before they managed a shot on target. These sort of performances or in reality non-performances, are becoming the trade mark of manager Roy Walker's reign, why it happens is a real poser but a solution must be found if United aren't to continue to be a mediocre side.

The United manager, who must have known we were in dire need of a fairly comprehensive victory, chose to give a start to reserve player Mike Smith 2, when we surely needed the wily (if unpredictable) and 2nd top scorer, Eamon Murray in our starting line-up, but what do I know. Caff, having served his one game suspension was returned to midfield alongside Taggart, with Rory on the right, the rest of the team were on the usual lines, with Sparky continuing up front with Cutch and on-loan striker Aaron Boyd on the bench. As it turned out a United win would have been immaterial as Portadown allowed Lisburn Distillery to beat them and therefore quashed any chance of United making the top six.

The fact that our dear rivals, the Coleraine scum lost and dropped into the bottom six is of little consequence and in fact means United have two away games in their last five games, instead of the one, if Distillery had remained in the bottom half. A trip to Ballycastle Road is rarely looked forward to as it is basically a 'dump', but given our recent record there, it is by no means an anticipated event. The first half yesterday was a case of the home side frittering away several chances as the United defence continued it's benevolent nature, not marking at corners and generally being slip-shod as is their wont. Goalkeeper Ryan Brown came to their rescue with a couple of saving punches and at least one good save. Midway through the half Rory made way for Gazza, which seemed to be a purely technical switch as we went to a 3,5,2 formation.

United, completely against the 'run of play', almost broke the deadlock when Sparky got onto a poor defensive header back to keeper Coleman, but the keeper just managed to push his shot over the bar. That was really the sum of United's attacking abilities in the first half as their passing on the firm Newry pitch was at best clumsy and at worst, diabolical. On one occasion, Lee Colligan, admittedly not the best attacking fullback around, found himself clear of the Newry defence, but instead of making a bee-line for the by-line (excuse my unintended pun), he crossed immediately and the opportunity went begging. Big Denver, who got hurt near halftime was obviously in a bit of distress and a change would have to be made at the interval, but would it be a positive change or a negative one, I wondered.

2nd half
United made the change at the start of the 2nd period with Murray coming on and with two wingers on the pitch I was a bit more hopeful. We did in fact look a bit more positive but due to some woeful finishing twice hitting the side-netting through Sparky and Murray, our old failing of not converting chances to goals reared up once more. It probably would be fair to say that if United had converted half of the 'clear-cut' chances they've created this season we'd be among the top three scorers in the league, instead of in the bottom three. Cutch saw a header saved by Coleman and the keeper also clawed away a rare and beautiful thing, a Gavin Taggart shot. Caff then saw the keeper just get his fingertips to his free kick and we were thwarted once more.

As so often happens in these matters it was the home side who broke the deadlock after 73 minutes. Gazza was caught out by a through ball and Albert was left to mark Graham and McCann. As Albert went to close down Graham he found McCann with a perfect pass and he fired past the hapless Brown who then picked up a caution from referee Weatherall, but what for is anybody's guess. Roy Walker played his last ace, taking off Mike Smith 2 and bringing on, on-loan striker Aaron Boyd. It was all out attack from the Sky Blues, but the elusive goal kept eluding them. Keeper Coleman, who had been blatantly time-wasting finally drew a yellow card from the referee but continued to flaunt the official as the clock ran down.

United finally got a somewhat undeserved goal in the last minute when a Caff corner was headed in by the unmarked Boyd. Was there enough time to force an unlikely if undeserved winner I wondered, the answer of course was an emphatic no. United fans were left to wonder why Boyd didn't get to start the game or at least come on earlier as we continue to miss chance after chance in front of goals. Surely now that the quest for sixth place is over, is it possible our players will start to show their true form or am I only dreaming here, is what I've witnessed this season our true form, good one game, mediocre the next. If that is how it is, then we're set for a whole lot more frustrations in the years to come, but I fervently hope not, but stranger things happen!

Brown (6), Mikey (6), Lee (5), Denver (5)(Sub: Murray 5,), Albert (6), Rory (5)(Sub: Gazza 6,), Taggart (5), Caff (6), Mike Smith 2(Sub: A. Boyd (6), Sparky (6), Cutch (5)

Man of the match: Albert